Assessing bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in Goats: Impacts of exposure to mine tailings in a polymetallic mining region

Assessing bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in Goats: Impacts of exposure to mine tailings in a polymetallic mining region | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Assessing bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in Goats: Impacts of exposure to mine tailings in a polymetallic mining region Martín Ubaldo Escorcia-Reynoso, Sergio Adrián Salgado-Souto, Rafael Del Rio-Salas, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4614307/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Pb, Cd, and As concentrations were measured in blood, edible tissues, urine, feces, and hair samples from goats raised in the vicinity of the abandoned El Fraile mine tailings (Taxco de Alarcón, Mexico) to evaluate the bioaccumulation levels to Pb, Cd, and As. The goats were fed grains, grasses, and sprouts that grew on top of mine tailings and drank from the mine leachate for seven months, reproducing the natural conditions of goats raised around and on top of mine tailings. Blood showed the lowest Pb, Cd, and As concentrations, followed by edible tissues (leg muscle, brain, and lungs) whose concentrations were below Mexican permissible limits (NOM-004-ZOO-1994). However, urine showed higher concentrations of Pb and As, but feces showed even higher concentrations and hair and bezoars exhibited the highest Pb, Cd, and As values. Even though these data suggest that consuming edible tissues does not represent a risk to human health, the high Pb, Cd, and As concentrations in urine, feces, and hair suggest that goats were exposed to chronic poisoning. Additionally, isotope data indicate that Pb determined in blood, urine, and bezoars is related to the remanent mineralization present in the mine tailings, highlighting the hazard that mine tailings represent to the environment and settlers of the region. Toxic elements goat edible tissues consumer food safety health risk Pb isotopes Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Highlights • Pb, Cd, and As concentrations in edible tissue of goats do not exceed recommended values. • Pb, Cd, and As values in urine, faces, and hair indicate toxic elements exposure and pollution. • Pb isotope ratios in urine, blood, and hair indicate the contribution of toxic elements from mine tailings • El Fraile mine tailings influence toxic elements contents in the living beings of the region. 1. INTRODUCTION Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) are at the top of the list of the five toxic elements (TE) of most concern for public health and the environment since they produce several adverse effects in human beings (Pan et al., 2012 ). Because Pb, Cd, and As are not essential for life, there are no threshold limits below which they can be considered safe (e.g. Seraj and Rahman, 2018 ; Peana et al., 2021 ). In the environment or animal/human tissue, Pb, Cd, and As are among the most harmful chemical pollutants. This is due to their ability to access different trophic levels of ecosystems to bioaccumulate and magnify, and to their almost zero capacity for biodegradation (Sarker et al., 2022 ). Once these TE are consumed, they persist in the body for a considerable time and, depending on the degree of exposure, induce acute or chronic exposure in the host (Munir et al., 2021 ). TE often mimic the chemical features of essential elements like calcium and magnesium; therefore, the TE gain access to critical cellular functions, leading to their bioaccumulation. TE are generally bound to biomolecules (proteins, enzymes, phospholipids, and hormones) to form chemical complexes that produce harmful alterations such as DNA damage, carcinogenesis, and detrimental cell cycle. Fergusson ( 1990 ) listed the principally hazardous effects and diseases that Pb, Cd, and As produce in the human body. Pb exposure could produce chromosomal abnormalities, toxicity to a fetus, decreased fertility in women, altered spermatogenesis, reduce peripheral nerve conduction, reduce hemoglobin synthesis, impaired kidney function, anemia, peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy (Pan et al., 2012 ; Rebelo and Caldas, 2016 ). Cd exposure may generate lungs, kidneys, and bons affectations like bronchitis, pneumonitis, pulmonary emphysema, proteinuria, renal damage, and Itai Itai disease (Okereafor et al., 2020 ; Munir et al., 2021 ; Njoga et al., 2021 ). Exposure to As could produce intense abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and death (Pan et al., 2012 ). Mine tailings increase the concentrations of Pb, Cd and As until 1,000 times the background or regional geochemical baselines levels, therefore mine waste represents one of the most important sources of TE in the Earth's crust (e.g., Dudka and Adriano, 1997 ; Okereafor et al., 2020 ). Mining has been an important activity in the region of Taxco de Alarcón, southern Mexico, for more than five centuries, genereting more than 55 million tons of mine tailings (Werre-Keeman and Rodarte, 1999 , Talavera et al., 2006) that were deposited preferably near the banks of the rivers (Fig. 1 ). In the community of El Fraile, two mine tailings (Fig. 1 ), the La Concha (~ 0.6 million tons of waste) and the El Fraile (~ 2.0 million tons of waste) were accumulated on the banks of the Cacalatenango river (Talavera et al., 2005 ). However, villagers herd their goats and cattle above the El Fraile mine tailings because of the abundant grow of fresh grass and shrubs (Fig. 2 ). Due to their agility and voracious appetite, goats roam these areas several times a day in search of food (Fig. 2 ); where plants such as wild grass and huizache ( Vachellia farnesiana ) are among the preferred ones. Unfortunately, these plants hyper accumulative TE (Hernández and Pastor, 2008), and when they are ingested by goats, the risk of TE bioaccumulating in the goats' tissues increases (Duruibe et al., 2007 ). The main objective of this research was to perform an exploratory assessment regarding the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in edible meat of goats reared close to the El Fraile mine tailings. The studied edible tissues included muscle, brain, long, liver, and kidney tissues, along with blood, urine, feces, and hair. The information obtained was used to evaluate the potential risk that mine tailings represent for residents since those who live near the mine tailings may breathe mine tailings particles and use the leachate water for domestic purposes and irrigation. Thus, in this work, goats are considered sentinels of TE exposure related to mine tailings. Additionally, Pb isotope composition was determined to trace the source of Pb found in the goats. The data provided may help estimate the risk represented by meat consumption from this type of cattle and identify which of the studied matrices is the best bioindicator of TE exposure. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK Taxco de Alarcón is located north of the state of Guerrero in southern Mexico (Fig. 1 ). The main lithological units in the region include the rocks of the Lower Cretaceous Taxco Schist Formation, the Albian-Cenomanian limestone of the Morelos Formation, the Cenomanian-Turonian sandstone and shale of the Mexcala Formation, the Paleogene red beds and conglomerates of the Balsas Formation, and Oligocene felsic volcanic rocks of the Tilzapotla Formation (Fig. 1 ) (Campa and Ramírez, 1979 ). This region has been one of the largest producers of metals in Mexico, and locals have practiced mining for more than 500 years (Armienta et al., 2003 ; Talavera et al., 2005 ; 2006). At least eight mine tailings were deposited in this municipality with high concentrations of TE (Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Se, and Zn) (Talavera et al., 2005 ). In particular, the El Fraile mine tailings deposit (Figs. 1 and 2 ) is located southwest of Taxco de Alarcón city, near the boundary between the El Fraile and Santa Rosa villages, where the mining activity was suspended ~ 1970 (Gómez-Bernal et al., 2010 ). The El Fraile mine tailings are made up of two separate but very close reservoirs (Fig. 1 ) that together hold a volume of 7,191,000 m 3 (Talavera et al., 2005 ; Olea and Zúñiga, 2009; Galarza Z, 2009 ). The tailings materials are mostly oxidized and developed efflorescent crusts composed of iron hydroxides and sulfates. Sidewall toxicant traps (Fig. 2 d and 2 g) also contain oxidized mine tailings material and efflorescent mineral crusts, which often contain high concentrations of TE and are highly soluble (Fig. 2 ). The average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As on the El Fraile mine tailings is 6,166.0, 5.8, and 3,744.3 mg kg − 1 , respectively (Talavera et al., 2005 ). Leachates from these deposits are discharged with a different flow rate the entire year along the Cacalotenango River, impacting the river water with Pb (~ 0.01 mg kg − 1 ), Cd (~ 0.005 mg kg − 1 ), and As (~ 0.022 mg kg − 1 ) (Ruiz and Armienta, 2012; Dotor et al., 2014). High concentrations in soils (Pb ~ 1334.83 mg kg − 1 and As ~ 89.02 mg kg − 1 ), roots and stalks of maize plants from agricultural plots (Pb: 0.93 − 0.88 mg kg − 1 , Cd:0.33–5.65 mg kg − 1 , and As:0.42–4.62 mg kg − 1 ) have been reported (Díaz-Villaseñor, 2006 ). Also, high lead blood concentrations (> 10 µg dL − 1 ) were determined in women of reproductive age from the Santa Rosa and the El Fraile communities (Vázquez-Bahena et al., 2017). Raising goats is a common economic activity in the rural communities belonging to the municipality of Taxco de Alarcón (e.g., El Fraile, Santa Rosa, Dolores, Tecalpulco, Campuzano). The goat meat plays an important role in the regional cuisine since various butcher shops sell the traditional Guerrero-style barbecued goat. Locals who raise goats in the Santa Rosa and the El Fraile region increase their profits by herding the goats over the El Fraile tailings (Fig. 2 f). Unfortunately, the growth of grass and “huizache” plants (Vachellia farnesiana ) over mine tailings can potentially bioaccumulate TE in their tissues (root, stem, leaves, and fruits) (Chaney et al., 1997 ; Becerril et al., 2007; Landeros et al., 2011). 3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 Experimental phase Four creole-breed male goats (four months old) were selected for the experimental phase with an average weight of 13 kg. The four goats were obtained from a farm located in the community (Coacoyula de Álvarez, Guerrero) with non-pollution records by mine waste. The experimental phase was divided into two time periods that consisted of (1) adaptation, which lasted three months (May - July 2017), and (b) exposure, which lasted six months (August 2017 - January 2018), where the blood and urine samples were taken monthly. Three goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) were placed and raised during the experimental phase on land in the community of Santa Rosa, less than 60 meters from the El Fraile mine tailings (Fig. 1 ). A fourth goat (CX-04), that represents the control one, was taken to a community (Santiago Temixco) 7 km to the southwest of Santa Rosa, which is free of mine waste pollution. During the adaptation period, the goats were attended with food and water free of toxic elements. Subsequently, the goats began to be exposed to TE by being fed with maize cultivated (0.45 kg per day) next to the El Fraile mine tailings and consumed water from leachates of mine tailings and from the Cacalotenango River, following the routine of locals. The control goat in both periods of the experimental phase consumed food and water free of mine tailings pollution. 3.2 Sample collection 3.2.1 Water and grass The water samples were collected in polyethylene bottles prewashed with nitric acid (50%) during the dry season. Three water samples were taken from different points of the Cacalotenango River, as well as two water samples from the ravine located in the lower part of the El Fraile mine tailings, where leachates are discharged (Fig. 1 ). Five grass samples were taken from the area where the goats grazed within 30 meters of the El Fraile tailings. The grass samples ( Cynodon dactylon ) were collected in disposable polyethylene bags, washed with MQ water in the laboratory to remove any residue, and stored in brown paper bags; then, the grass samples were dried in an oven at 80°C. Subsequently, the Cynodon dactylon samples were crushed and sieved to a diameter of 5 mm and stored in bags until acid digestion. 3.2.2 Blood, urine, and feces Blood samples were taken from each goat through jugular vein puncture in 6 mL Vacutainer tubes with anticoagulant. They were then taken to the laboratory and stored at -20°C. The urine and feces samples were taken from spontaneous excretions and collected in sterile 120 mL polyethylene containers. Approximately 30 mL of urine and 15 g of feces samples were collected from each goat, labeled, and stored at -20°C. 3.2.3 Sacrifice of the goats The sacrifice of the goats was carried out following the methodology of the Official Mexican Standard NOM-033-SAG/ZOO-2014 to sacrifice domestic and wild animals. The procedures carried out in this research were authorized by the Bioethics Committee of the Autonomous University of Guerrero. The sacrifice was carried out by a qualified and trained person (veterinarian) in the matter, in compliance with the appropriate protocol. 3.2.4 Soft tissues The soft tissue samples (muscle, brain, rumen, lung, liver, and kidney) were taken after the sacrifice of the goats; the samples were stored in polyethylene bags and placed in a cooler for conservation. Subsequently, the samples were taken to the laboratory and stored in a freezer at -20°C. 3.2.5 Bezoar and hair Samples of bezoars (hairballs formed in goat rumen because of grooming to themselves) were found in the rumen at the time of necropsy. It should be noted that of the three goats exposed to toxic elements, only goats CX-01 and CX-03 presented bezoars. These samples were stored in polyethylene bags in a cooler for their conservation and taken to the laboratory for storage at -20°C. During the experiment, each month, a lock of hair was cut from the back of each goat, stored in a labeled sterile 120 mL polyethylene jar, and kept at -20°C. 3.3 Sample preparation 3.3.1 Blood, urine, feces, bezoars, hair, and grass Blood, urine, feces, bezoars, hair, and grass samples were digested by the wet method for the measurements of TE (Licata et al., 2004 ). From each goat, 5 mL of blood, 10 mL of urine, 1 g of feces, 0.30 g of bezoars, 0.3 g of hair, and 0.5 g of grass were individually placed in ultra-clean Savillex vials, which were previously pre-washed with 2% nitric acid (HNO 3 ) and MQ water. The samples were predigested with 10 mL of 8M HNO 3 on a hot plate at 135°C until dryness. Subsequently, 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) was added, and the temperature was kept at 135°C for one hour until the sample dried and showed a light color. 3.3.2 Soft tissues For total and wet digestion of the soft tissue samples (muscle, brain, rumen, lung, liver, and kidney), 0.5 g of sample were weighted in ultra-clean Savillex pumps. Subsequently, the samples were digested with 5 mL of 8M HNO 3 on a hot plate at 130°C. Later, 5 mL of peroxide was added and kept on the hot plate for one hour until evaporation. The addition of HNO 3 and peroxide was repeated to eliminate organic matter. 3.4 Elemental concentrations Elemental concentrations of water, grass, blood, feces, hair, and soft tissue samples were measured at the Laboratory of Geochemistry (LG) of the Autonomous University of Guerrero, while blood, urine, and bezoar samples were analyzed at the Emerging Pollutants Laboratory (ALEC) of the University of Arizona. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were determined in a Perkin Elmer Optima 3200 (LG) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Emission Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The accuracy and precision of the analytical methods were monitored using the reference standard Lyphochek Whole Blood Metals Control, Level 3, #529, for the quantification of Pb, Cd, and As in blood, urine, bezoars, and soft tissues. For the quantification of the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As, the equipment was calibrated with routine standards (CWW-TM-D; CWW-TM-H; CWW-TM-A; CWW-TM-E), Inorganic Ventures (Christiansburg, VA), and High-Purity Standards (North Charleston, SC). The detection limit of the equipment was 0.010 mg L − 1 . 3.5 Lead isotope measurements For the determination of the Pb isotope ratios, 5 mL of blood, urine, bezoars, and water samples were used. Sample preparation for Pb isotope ratios was carried out by chromatographic methods following the procedure described by Thibodeau et al. ( 2013 ). The isotope ratios of Pb were determined in 35 and 10 ppb solutions, and the isotopic fractionation was monitored by the analysis of the NBS-981 certified standard 206 Pb/ 204 Pb=16.9405; 207 Pb/ 204 Pb=15.4963 and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb = 36.7219 (Galer and Abouchami, 1998 ). The error was calculated from the reproducibility of the NBS-981 standard throughout each measurement; the external errors (2 σ) were 0.0034–0.0140% ( 206 Pb/ 204 Pb), 0.0036–0.0136% ( 207 Pb/ 204 Pb), and 0.0099–0.0333% ( 208 Pb/ 204 Pb). 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Accumulation of TE Table 1 A shows the data of the response variables of goats exposed to Pb, Cd, and As, as well as the control goat. The goats showed a constant increase in weight and growth throughout the experiment. Regarding the three goats exposed to TE, goat CX-01 was always the heaviest and largest; followed by goat CX-02 and goat CX-03, which always showed smaller dimensions. Control goat CX-04 always had the largest dimensions of all goats. 4.1.1 Water, Cynodon dactylon, Zea mays , and Vachellia farnesiana Table 2 A shows the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As in water samples from the mine tailings of the El Fraile and the Cacalotenango River, in addition to samples of maize ( Zea mays) , grass ( Cynodon dactylon) , and huizache ( Vachellia farnesiana) plants, which were used to feed goats. The water river sample showed concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As of < 5, 9, and 10 µg L − 1 , respectively, whereas the leachates (from mine tailings) sample presented concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As of 2.6, 2.3, and 0.1 µg L − 1 , respectively (Arroyo-Diaz, 2019). These concentrations suggest that most of these data (river water and leachate samples) were below the Mexican reference values of water for human use and consumption (NOM-127, 1994), and wastewater discharges (NOM-001 SEMARNAT, 2021), as well as the recommended values for water consumption according to the European Union (European Council of the European Union, 1998 ) (Table 2 A). The Zea mays samples showed concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As of 1.24, 5.12, and 4.31 mg kg − 1 , respectively (Díaz-Villaseñor, 2006 ; Table 2 A); whereas lower concentrations were found in grass samples (Pb = 0.16 mg kg − 1 , Cd = 0.096 mg kg − 1 , and As = 0.096 mg kg − 1 ; this study) and Vachellia farnesiana plants (Pb = 0.144 mg kg − 1 , Cd = 0.087 mg kg − 1 , and As = 0.072 mg kg − 1 ; Cervantes-Ramírez et al., 2018 ). According to the maximum recommended daily dose limits for Pb, Cd, and As for humans and/or animals, the intake should not exceed 10, 5, and 15 µg day − 1 , respectively (Pandey and Madhuri, 2014 ). The exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, CX-03) exceeded these limits, as they consumed around 153, 118, and 126 µg of Pb, Cd, and As, respectively, each day through the consumption of grass, maize, sweet acacia, and water. 4.1.2 Edible tissues Table 1 shows the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As in edible tissue samples from the muscle, brain, rumen, lung, liver, and kidney of the goats studied. In general, the lowest concentrations were found in the muscle, brain, and lung tissues, while higher concentrations were found in the rumen, liver, and kidney tissues (Fig. 3 ). Table 1 Concentration of TE of edible and visors tissues (mg kg-1) of exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) and control goat (CX-04) Goat Element Muscle Brain Rumen Lung Liver Kidney Pb ND ND 0.513 ND 0.204 0.245 CX-01 Cd 0.006 0.006 0.022 0.017 0.029 0.049 As ND 0.012 0.022 0.017 0.029 0.049 Pb ND ND ND ND ND ND CX-02 Cd 0.042 0.019 0.023 0.019 0.030 0.111 As 0.042 0.019 0.023 0.019 0.030 0.111 Pb ND ND ND ND 0.056 0.130 CX-03 Cd 0.024 0.020 0.011 0.022 0.034 0.060 As 0.024 0.020 0.021 0.022 0.034 0.060 Pb ND ND ND ND ND ND CX-04 Cd 0.019 0.021 ND 0.020 0.050 0.095 As 0.019 0.021 ND 0.020 0.050 0.095 Particularly, the samples of muscle, brain, and lung tissues showed Pb concentrations below the detection limit (< 0.025 mg kg − 1 ), while Cd and As were slightly higher between 6 and 42 mg kg − 1 , respectively (Fig. 3 ). Instead, rumen tissue of the goat CX-01 yielded a Pb concentration of 0.513 mg kg − 1 , clearly higher than the rest of the goats, whose concentrations were below the detection limit (< 0.025 mg kg − 1 ), whereas Cd and As in rumen tissue yielded concentrations ranging from 0.011 to 0.023 mg kg − 1 (Table 1 ). Liver and kidney tissue showed slightly higher concentrations, where Pb was in both type of tissues in a range between 0.056 and 0.245 mg kg − 1 , while Cd and As in the liver were within the range of 0.029 and 0.034 mg kg − 1 , and in the kidney within 0.049 to 0.111 mg kg − 1 (Fig. 3 ). Lead concentrations in the edible tissues of muscles, brain, and lungs are well below any permissible limit, while in liver and kidney samples showed higher, but still below the permissible values of the Mexican Official Standard, FAO (1989), USEPA (2002); and Chinese Food Health Criterion (GB 2762 − 2017; Table 2 A), and barely similar to those of the Codex Alimentarius (CXS-193-1995) in a range of 50–100 µg kg − 1 (Fig. 3 a). The maximum permissible intake of Pb in food is between 75–150 µg d − 1 for a human adult and 100 to 50 µg d − 1 for children, with an absorption that varying from adult to child from 10 to 50% (Fergusson, 1990 ). Thus, the intake of 200 g of goat meat with a concentration of 100 µg L − 1 would represent an intake of just 20 µg and an absorption of 2 µg for an adult and 5–10 µg for children, indicating a minimum danger for human health. After TE ingestion in humans, lead is distributed to different organs, mainly bones, kidneys, and liver, having the ability to cross the blood-brain and placental barriers, increasing bioaccumulation in the brain and in the fetus of exposed living beings (Okereafor et al., 2020 ). Animal meat for human consumption is considered safe when blood lead levels are below background levels during three consecutive samplings at least three weeks apart (Sharpe and Livesey, 2006 ). In goats, lead affects various physiological processes in the body leading to neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal damage, oxidative stress, kidney and liver dysfunction, inhibition of the enzyme system associated with hemoglobin and calcium synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D, endocrine disruption, and other cellular disturbances (Swarup and Dwivedi, 2002 ; Patra et al., 2011 ; Slivinska et al., 2020 ). Lead also affects the reproductive system (Verma et al., 2020), and most of the findings indicate a higher tolerance to lead in sheep and goats compared to cattle. However, goats, although they can tolerate chronic doses of up to 400 mg per kg of body weight, can also exhibit cumulative lethal toxicity with predominant signs of central nervous system, following prolonged exposure to lead (Swarup and Dwivedi, 2011 ). Lead mimics calcium and zinc at the cellular level, which is suggested to be one of the mechanisms of neuropathy. Typical values for lead in ruminants have ranged between 0.05 and 0.25 mg kg − 1 in whole blood, and the upper limit for lead in the liver has been set at 1 mg kg − 1 . Poisoned animals have a blood lead concentration greater than 0.35 mg kg − 1 . Although animals with less severe clinical signs may recover, tissue lead concentrations may remain elevated for months or years, subsequently posing a potential problem with lead residues in the food chain (Bates and Payne, 2017 ). Cadmium concentrations in muscle, brain, and lung tissues did not show differences with Cd concentrations in rumen, liver, and kidney samples (Fig. 3 b). All the edible tissues presented Cd concentrations far below the Mexican guideline for control of toxic residues in meat, fat, liver, and kidney of goats (NOM-004-ZOO,1994; <10,000–2,000 µg kg − 1 ). Except for kidney tissue, muscle, brain, lung, rumen and liver tissues presented Cd concentration below to the Codex Alimentarius (CXS-193-1995; 500 µg kg − 1 ), FAO (1989; 1000 µg kg − 1 ) ; USEPA (2002; 1400 µg kg − 1 ), Chinese Food Health Criterion (GB 2762 − 2017; 100–1000 µg kg − 1 ) (Table 2 A), but within a permissible range for foods which is 10 to 40 µg kg − 1 . Fergusson ( 1990 ) defined that the permissible intake of Cd through food for an adult is between 15 and 60 µg d − 1 , with an absorption of 6%. Therefore, an intake of 200 g of any of these edible tissues with an average concentration of 50 µg kg − 1 would represent an intake of 10 µg, which is close to the minimum daily intake value for this metal. Cadmium is an extremely toxic metal with a destructive impact on most organ systems (Bernhoft, 2013 ). After absorption in humans, cadmium accumulates rapidly in the kidneys and liver (Patra et al., 2007 ). Cadmium readily binds to metallothionein, a cysteine-rich protein that binds to metals, and induces their production. This causes cadmium retention in tissues, as well as a longer (> 10 years in humans) residence time (Hooser, 2018 ). Cadmium also inhibits the production of essential enzymes for the Kreb cycle, affects normal cell proliferation and differentiation, and increases apoptosis. The induction of oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the main route of cadmium toxicity (Rebelo and Caldas, 2016 ; Njoga et al., 2021 ). These effects cause DNA damage and interfere with DNA repair mechanisms. Accidental ingestion of large amounts of cadmium causes acute nephrotoxicity and liver damage in goats. In addition to the more obvious symptoms of toxicity, cadmium exposure is associated with subtle subclinical effects such as oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, poor reproductive performance, and poor weight gain (Swarup and Dwivedi, 2002 ). Long-term exposure to cadmium increases lipid peroxidation and causes inhibition of superoxide dismutase activity, leading to oxidative stress in the liver, kidneys, and testicles (Patra et al., 1999 ). Animals deficient in calcium, iron, and zinc are more prone to cadmium toxicity (Alonso et al., 2004 ). Arsenic concentrations in edible tissue samples of muscle, brain, lung, rumen, liver, and kidney are well below the values established in Mexican guideline for for control of toxic residues in meat, fat, liver and kidney of goats (NOM-004-ZOO-1994 (500-2,000 µg kg − 1 ), FAO, 1989; USEPA, 2002; and Chinese Food Health Criterion (GB 2762 − 2017), and barely below to those of the Codex Alimentarius (CXS-193-1995; 100 µg kg − 1 ) (Fig. 3 b). The arsenic intake through food for an adult should not exceed the range of 10–40 µg kg − 1 by day for adults and 1–5 µg kg − 1 by day for children (Fergusson, 1990 ). Since the absorption of arsenic in humans varies from 25 to 100% depending on the nature of the arsenic species, an intake of 200 g of edible tissues from these goats would represent an intake of 6 to 10 µg, which is very close to the value minimum allowed and occur since a single source (Fergusson, 1990 ; Liu ZP, 2003 ). Arsenic, after absorption in animals, preferentially accumulates in the liver and is slowly distributed to other tissues. The spleen, kidneys, and lungs can also accumulate high concentrations of arsenic (Rebelo and Caldas, 2016 ; Ortega-Morales et al., 2020 ). Organs with tissues rich in oxidative enzymes are strongly affected. Thus, the liver is the best organ to diagnose acute poisoning, while the kidney can contain moderate concentrations and help diagnose chronic poisoning (Radostits et al., 2007 ). Therefore, As in the urine is maintained for several days after exposure (Swarup and Dwivedi, 2011 ). Despite goats being exposed to toxic elements, Pb, Cd, and As concentrations found in blood and edible tissues were very low, suggesting that the meat of goats raised in this region under these conditions does not represent a major risk for the people’s health who get used to consume as food. 4.2 Bioindicators of TE exposure Tables 2 and 3 show the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As in samples of blood, urine, feces, hair, and bezoar from the studied goats. Blood samples showed low concentrations of Pb (5.8–13.2 µg L − 1 ), Cd (0.1–0.35 µg L − 1 ), and As (< DL) (Figs. 3 and 4 ). The TE concentrations determined in the blood of exposed goats were lower than the minimum permissible values to produce chronic poisoning (Pb = 100 µg L − 1 , Cd = 5 µg L − 1 , As = 10 µg L − 1 ) (ATSDR, 2007 ; Jubril et al., 2020 ). Nevertheless, the fact that Pb was detected in blood samples confirms the TE exposure of goats and that traces of the TE were circulating in the bloodstream, triggering potential adverse effects in organs and the nervous system (Cretacci and Parsons, 2010 ). Table 2 Pb, Cd and As concentration of blood samples of of exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) and control goat (CX-04). Goat Blood Sampling months Pb (µg/dL) Cd (mg/L) As (mg/L) May-2017 ND 0.010 0.010 Jun-2017 ND ND ND Augost-2017 2.8 ND ND CX-01 September-2017 ND ND ND January-2018* 1.32 0.00032 ND February-2018 ND ND ND May-2017 2.6 ND ND Jun-2017 ND ND ND Augost-2017 ND ND ND CX-02 September-2017 ND ND ND January-2018* 1.03 0.0002 ND February-2018 ND ND ND May-2017 ND 0.006 ND Jun-2017 ND ND ND Augost-2017 ND ND ND CX-03 September-2017 ND ND ND January-2018* 1.22 0.00007 ND February-2018 ND ND ND May-2017 ND 0.005 ND Jun-2017 ND ND ND Augost-2017 ND ND ND CX-04 September-2017 ND ND ND January-2018* 0.58 0.00035 ND February-2018 ND ND ND * Sampling month used for the evaluation. ND of Pb = 2.5 µg D − 1 ND of Cd = 5 µg L − 1 ND of Pb = 10 µg D − 1 Table 3 Concentration of TE in urine, feces, hair and bezoar samples of exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) and control goat (CX-04). Goats Pb (µg/L) Cd (µg/L) As (µg/L) urine urine urine CX-1 70 1 836 CX-2 19 0.32 148 CX-3 47 0.3 89 CX-4 9 0.34 37 Pb µg/kg Cd µg/kg As µg/kg feces feces feces CX-1 33098.93 327.35 363.72 CX-2 1270.67 302.54 302.54 CX-3 1331.85 166.48 208.10 CX-4 61.80 61.80 123.61 Pb (µg/kg) Cd (µg/kg) As (µg/kg) bezoar bezoar bezoar CX-1 921 84 993 CX-2 NA NA NA CX-3 17767 48 841 CX-4 NA NA NA Pb µg/kg Cd µg/kg As µg/kg unclean hair unclean hair unclean hair CX-1 0.00 80.34 80.34 CX-2 1048.95 104.90 209.79 CX-3 2002.97 111.28 222.55 CX-4 <DL 65.33 65.33 Pb µg/kg Cd µg/kg As µg/kg clean hair clean hair clean hair CX-1 <DL 723.86 643.43 CX-2 182.48 60.83 60.83 CX-3 536.54 229.94 229.94 CX-4 <DL 41.99 83.99 Urine samples showed slightly higher concentrations of Pb (19–70 µg L − 1 ) and Cd (0.3-1 µg L − 1 ); however, As concentrations were much higher (89–836 µg L − 1 ), at least three orders of magnitude greater than those in blood. The control goat had only 20%, 0.12%, and 10% of the average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As in the urine of the three exposed goats, respectively, demonstrating its role as a control organism. The data obtained from urine samples confirm arsenic as an effective biomarker for tracing As exposure in goats (Bera et al., 2010 ). Similarly, feces of the three exposed goats showed the highest concentrations of Pb (1,270 − 33,100 µg kg − 1 ), Cd (167–327 µg kg − 1 ), and As (208–364 µg kg − 1 ) across all studied matrices, whereas the concentrations of the control goat did not exceed 0.5%, 23% and 21% of the mean of Pb, Cd, and As of the exposed goats. The urine and feces concentrations suggest that these excretes are an efficient mechanism to eliminate large amounts of TE from their organism, avoiding their bioaccumulation in the edible tissues and chronic toxicity in goats. Hair is one of the most used bioindicators because it is the least invasive, easiest to collect, and most suitable for recording TE bioaccumulation for several weeks (Fergusson, 1990 ). Bezoars found in two exposed goats (CX-1 and CX-3; Fig. S1 ) showed relatively high concentrations of Pb (921 − 17,767 µg kg − 1 ), Cd (42–724 µg kg − 1 ), and As (841–993 µg kg − 1 ) (Figs. 3 and 5 ). The high concentration in bezoars is explained by the bioaccumulation in the hair, or by the presence of fine TE particles attached to the goats’ hair (Fragoso-Arbelo et al., 2002). Therefore, two different samples of goat loin hair were evaluated: i) unclean hair with particulate matter attached to their surface (Hair D), and ii) clean hair, rinsed with MQ water (Hair C). The concentrations of unclean hair (Pb: 1,049 − 2,003 µg/kg; Cd: 11–80 µg/kg; and As: 80–223 µg/kg) and clean hair (Pb: 182–536 µg/kg; Cd: 61–724 µg/kg; and As: 61–643 µg/kg), with the exception of Pb, were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Figure 6 shows SEM images of fine particulate matter impregnated in goats’ hair and X-diffraction of those particles, displaying the abundance of the most enriched elements (Cr, Ni, Fe, Si, Al, Sn, K, and Mg). The control goat hair showed the least particulate matter and the least TE concentrations (Pb: < DL µg/kg; Cd:42–65 µg/kg; and As:65–84 µg/kg). 4.3 Source of lead The Pb isotope composition of blood, urine, and bezoar samples from exposed goats, river water, and leachates are shown in Table 4 . The water from the Cacalotenango River and leachates from the El Fraile tailings exhibit an extremely homogenous composition of the 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios, ranging from 18.741 to 18.750, 15.646 to 15.654, and 38.692 to 38.714, respectively (Fig. 7 ). The blood samples showed 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb isotope ratios ranging from 18.715 to 18.772, 15.460 to 15.666, and 38.562 to 38.708, respectively, whereas urine showed a more heterogeneous isotope composition yielding 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios ranging from 18.737 to 18.301, 15.657 to 15.634, and 38.717 to 38.186, respectively. The bezoars showed a composition relatively similar to those of the blood samples with 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios ranging from 18.722 to 18.720, 15.651 to 15.631, and 38.666 to 38.613, respectively. Table 4 Pb isotopes data from blood, urine and bezoars of the goats, as well as the water from the area where the goats exposed to toxic elements (CX-01, CX-02 and CX-03) and the control goats (CX-04). Goat Type of sample 206 Pb/ 204 Pb 207 Pb/ 204 Pb 208 Pb/ 204 Pb CX-01 Blood 18.73624 15.64760 38.66491 CX-02 Blood 18.71586 15.64017 38.61911 CX-03 Blood 18.75299 15.66693 38.70827 CX-04 Blood 18.77299 15.64774 38.56202 CX-01 Urine 18.73730 15.65746 38.71787 CX-02 Urine 18.52837 15.64411 38.43521 CX-03 Urine 18.70549 15.65482 38.67151 CX-04 Urine 18.30119 15.63460 38.18617 CX-01 Bezoar 18.72274 15.65104 38.66698 CX-03 Bezoar 18.72057 15.63136 38.61367 B1 Drinking water 18.75075 15.65405 38.71477 B2 Drinking water 18.75011 15.65218 38.71129 R1 Drinking water 18.74866 15.65107 38.70431 R2 Drinking water 18.74657 15.65081 38.70461 R2 Drinking water 18.74148 15.64660 38.69273 Based on Pb isotope data, Vázquez et al. ( 2017 ) demonstrated the influence of mine tailings as an important source of Pb and other TE that are dispersed through the environmental media. However, these authors found that humans are exposed to more Pb sources, including, for instance, indoor dust, paints, gasoline, cigarettes, and glazed pottery. Since goats were confined to a specific location with controlled feeding and water intake, the Pb isotope composition of blood, urine, and bezoar samples suggests that the main source of Pb in goats living in the vicinity of the El Fraile mine tailings is the residual mineralization in the mine tailings (Fig. 7 ). The geochemical and isotope data provided in this research demonstrate the negative health impact that mine tailings represent for most living beings in historical mining regions. 4.4 TE distribution in the environment The El Fraile mine tailings have been present for over 70 years (Talavera-Mendoza et al., 2005); during this time, oxidation and erosion triggered the dispersion of TE to river water, soils (mainly used for agriculture purposes), and air (Talavera-Mendoza et al., 2016 ; Arroyo-Diaz et al., 2022 ). Since TE (e.g., Pb: 3,677 mg/kg; Cd: 39.5 mg/kg; As: 1,324 mg/kg; Talavera-Mendoza et al., 2005) have been released from mine tailings into the environment, they could be ingested by living beings such as plants, animals, and humans through different various pathways (e.g., inhalation, dermal, and oral ingestion). Because some families have been raising goats for more than 40 years, grazing them mainly around and on top of the mine tailings (Figs. 1 and 2 ), there is great concern about the exposure of goats to TE in small, chronic, and constant doses through ingestion of grass and bush shoots, as well as ingestion of river water impacted by mine tailings leachates, and/or inhalation of mine tailings particles. Since Pb, Cd, and As are at the top of the list of most harmful TE (Okereafor et al., 2020 ; Munir et al., 2021 ; Njoga et al., 2021 ), the goats can suffer several health damages. Thus, goats exposed to Pb may yield high levels of Pb in blood, triggering a significant reduction in erythrocyte parameters and a significant increase in platelet count values and some leukocyte parameters (Jubril et al., 2020 ). Exposure to Cd may produce an increase in the generation of free radicals and alterations in antioxidant mechanisms and enzymatic processes (Jubril et al., 2020 ). Goats exposed to As have shown a 2.5% decrease in body weight and respiratory rate, as well as irregularities in the heart rate (Ortega-Morales et al., 2020 ). All these symptoms highlight the harmful effects of TE exposure in small ruminants. Most of the experiments describing harmful effects in goats due to TE exposure were carried out using high doses in short periods (2–3 months) (Ortega-Morales et al., 2020 ) or with food with high TE concentrations (Bashir et al., 2020 ). In contrast, the present investigation used natural inputs, approaching the real conditions of the region (Table 2 A) for a longer period (7 months). However, it was found that edible tissues (e.g., muscle, kidney, liver) of exposed goats showed similar concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As to goat tissues exposed to high doses. In real conditions, many goats in the study region are exposed to the interaction with mine tailings waste every day during longer periods (> 7 months), or even in a complete life cycle (10–13 years), potentially representing higher TE exposure and bioaccumulation. Furthermore, the families involved in goat farming have been grazing them on and around the El Fraile mine tailings for more than 40 years. This long-standing practice increases the probability of generating health damage, bioaccumulating TE, and transferring TE from maternal blood to the fetus via the placenta. Consequently, exposure continues throughout the lives of the newborns (Roels et al., 1978 ; Chen et al., 2014 ; Rebelo and Caldas, 2016 ). While people living around the mine tailings neither eat grass nor drink water from the tailings leachates, they use nearby land to grow vegetables and maize. Additionally, during dry times, people use mine tailings leachates for irrigating plants and crops, feeding pets and livestock, but also, for personal hygiene, house cleaning, and washing cloths and dishes. Thus, inhabitants of this region are exposed to TE. Exposure to high Pb levels could cause health problems such as distortions in hemoglobin synthesis, abnormalities in erythropoiesis and disorders in central nervous system functions (Sindhu and Sutherling, 2015 ), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, low intelligence quotient and dysfunctional behavior in children, young people and adults (Lee et al., 2018 ). In cases of chronic Pb exposure, adults may present hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, mental retardation, behavioral disorders, neuropsychological deficits, early cognitive impairment, and other neurological disorders. Exposure to As produces health risks and it is highly carcinogenic, especially during gastrointestinal or respiratory exposure (Hirano, 2020 ). Likewise, exposure to As, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, causes skin, lung, and bladder cancers (Hong et al., 2014 ). Whereas exposure to Cd causes dysfunctions of both taste and smell (Zheng et al., 2020 ). Excessive level of Cd in the body can cause hepatotoxicity, osteoporosis, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, and immunosuppression due to induction of apoptosis in normal human mononuclear cells (De la Fuente et al., 2020; Al-Ghafari et al. 2019 ). Cadmium is involved in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (Hildebrand et al., 2019 ), by decreasing pancreatic insulin production and increasing insulin resistance (Njoga et al., 2021 ). 5. CONCLUSIONS This research evaluated exposure to Pb, Cd and As in goats raised near the El Fraile mine tailings, by measuring the concentrations of Pb, Cd and As in blood, edible tissues, urine, feces and hair. Geochemical data indicate that goats likely consumed Pb, Cd, and As through ingestion (food and water), demonstrating that grass, maize, sweet acacia, water from the Cacalotenango River, and leachates from the mine tailings can act as transport agents of TE whose fate is living beings. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As in blood and soft tissues of the lung and brain of goats were very low, even well below the maximum permissible limits established by Mexican (NOM-004-ZOO-1994) and international regulation agencies (FAO, 1989; USEPA, 2002; GB 2762 − 2017; CXS-193-1995). These data indicate that the use of this livestock for human consumption does not represent an important health risk. However, the relatively high concentrations found in urine and feces demonstrate the great capability of goats to eliminate TE from their organisms, reducing exposure and poisoning, and decreasing the risk for human consumption. The high concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As determined in hair and bezoar samples also serve as evidence of impact of living beings by mine tailings. These data highlight the effectiveness of non-invasive samples (i.e., urine, feces, hair) as bioindicators of TE exposure. Moreover, the Pb isotope composition of blood, urine, and bezoar from goats was similar to the composition of the El Fraile mine tailings, indicating that the El Fraile mine tailings represent a hazard to the environment and health. The findings of this research demonstrate the existence of a significant risk to the health of living beings that interact with the mine tailings or their derivatives. In just seven months, the exposed goats managed to ingest, bioaccumulate, and eliminate TE from their systems. In real conditions, goats are exposed for longer periods, which makes them more likely to have higher rates of exposure and bioaccumulation of TE. Thus, the goats serve as an indirect indicator of the potential exposure to TE for people living near mine tailings, who may interact with the contaminated environment over longer periods due to their daily activities. Declarations FUNDING This research was conducted without any funding or financial support. Author Contribution MUER: sample preparation and investigationSASS: Conceptualization, investigation, resources, project administration, Validation, Visualization, Writing – originalRDS: Visualization, Writing – review and editingOTM: ConceptualizationMBBL: autopsy and dissection of goatsGNM: autopsy and dissection of goatsJLAN: Writing – review and editingGHF: Writing – review and editingAll authors commented on previous versions of the manuscriptAll authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript. Acknowledgment The authors are grateful to Mark Baker, manager of the Laboratory of Geochemistry of the Department of Geosciences, at the University of Arizona, for the support in acquiring Pb isotope measurements. We also thank to Jazmin Alaide López-Díaz and the Scanning Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Laboratory (LMEByM) at the Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (CONAHCYT, grants 231511 and 322409) for provide the imaging and geochemical data. We thank Daniel Ramos Pérez and the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (LCA) for acquiring geochemical data. This contribution was part of a Master of Science thesis by Martín Ubaldo Escorcia-Reynoso, who received support from the National Council of Humanities, Science and Technology, Mexico (CONAHCYT) through a postgraduate scholarship for his support during his studies. References Al-Ghafari, A., Elmorsy, E., Fikry, E., Alrowaili, M., & Carter, W. G. (2019). 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A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats. Vet. Med, 10, 2045–2050. Rebelo, F. M., and Caldas, E. D. (2016). Arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium: Toxicity, levels in breast milk and the risks for breastfed infants. Environmental research, 151, 671–688. Roels, H., Hubermont, G., Buchet, J. P., & Lauwerys, R. (1978). Placental transfer of lead, mercury, cadmium, and carbon monoxide in women: III. Factors influencing the accumulation of heavy metals in the placenta and the relationship between metal concentration in the placenta and in maternal and cord blood. Environmental research, 16(1–3), 236–247. Ruiz-Huerta, E., Armienta-Hernández, M.A., 2012. Acumulación de arsénico y metales pesados en maíz en suelos cercanos a jales o residuos mineros. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient. 28, 103–117. Sarker, A., Kim, J. E., Islam, A. R. M. T., Bilal, M., Rakib, M. R. J., Nandi, R., … Islam, T. (2022). Heavy metals contamination and associated health risks in food webs—a review focuses on food safety and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(3), 3230–3245. SEMARNAT. (2021). Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, que establece los límites permisibles de contaminantes en las descargas de aguas residuales en cuerpos receptores propiedad de la nación. Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales. Diario Oficial de la Federación, March 11. Seraj, F., & Rahman, T. (2018). Heavy metals, metalloids, their toxic effect and living systems. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 9(13), 2626–2643. Sindhu, K. K., and Sutherling, W. W. (2015). Role of lead in the central nervous system: Effect on electroencephlography, evoked potentials, electroretinography, and nerve conduction. The Neurodiagnostic Journal, 55(2), 107–121. Sharpe, R. T., & Livesey, C. T. (2006). Lead poisoning in cattle and its implications for food safety. Veterinary Record, 159(3), 71–74. Slivinska, L. G., Shcherbatyy, A. R., Lukashchuk, B. O., & Gutyj, B. V. (2020). The state of antioxidant protection system in cows under the influence of heavy metals. Regulatory Mechanisms in Biosystems, 11(2), 237–242. Swarup, D., & Dwivedi, S. K. (2002). Environmental pollution and effects of lead and fluoride on animal health. Swarup D and Dwivedi HP, 2011. Animal health risks due to inorganic chemical pollutants. In. Environmental Security: Human and Animal Health. Sudhi Ranjan Garg. Ed. IBDC Publishers, pp 25–38 Tafoya-Hernández, A., Talavera-Mendoza, O., Salgado-Souto, S. A., Ruiz, J., Hernández-Castro, E., Rosas-Acevedo, J. L., … & Vázquez-Bahena, A. B. (2022). Impact assessment of Hg–Sb wastes to urban soils and shallow groundwater in the mining region of Huitzuco, Guerrero (southern Mexico) using mineralogical, geochemical and Sr–Pb isotopic tools. Applied Geochemistry, 138, 105213. Talavera, M.O., Yta, M., Moreno-Tovar, R., Dótor-Almazán, A., Flores-Mundo, N., Duarte Gutiérrez, C., 2005. Mineralogy and geochemistry of sulfide-bearing tailings from silver mines in the Taxco, Mexico area to evaluate their potential environmental impact. Geofis. Int. 44, 49–64. Talavera-Mendoza, O., M. A. Armienta Hernández, J. García-Abundis, & N. Flores-Mundo. 2006. Geochemistry of leachates from the El Fraile sulfide tailings piles in Taxco, Guerrero, southern Mexico. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 28: 243–255. Talavera-Mendoza, O., Ruiz, J., Diaz-Villasenor, E., Ramirez Guzman, A., Cortes, A., Salgado- Souto, S. A., and Rivera Bustos, R. (2016). Water-rock-tailings interactions and sources of sulfur and metals in the subtropical mining region of Taxco, Guerrero (southern Mexico). Applied Geochemistry, 66, 73–81. Thibodeau, A.M., Habicht-Mauche, J.A., Huntley, D.L.,Chesley, J.T.,Ruiz, J., 2013. Highprecision isotopic analyses of lead ores from New Mexico by MC-ICP-MS: implications for tracing the production and exchange of Pueblo IV glaze-decorated pottery. J. Archaeol. Sci. 40, 3067–3075. United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), 2002. Appendix V: Median International Standards. Environmental Protection Agency. Vázquez, A., Talavera, O., Moreno, Ma., Salgado, S., Ruiz, J. & Huerta, G. (2017). Source apportionment of lead in the blood of women of reproductive age living near tailings in Taxco, Guerrero, México: An isotopic study. Verma, P., & Ratan, J. K. (2020). Assessment of the negative effects of various inorganic water pollutants on the biosphere—an overview. Inorganic Pollutants in Water, 73–96. Yuan, Y., Sun, T., Wang, H., Liu, Y., Pan, Y., Xie, Y., Huang, H., & Fan, Z., 2020. Bioaccumulation and health risk assessment of heavy metals to bivalve species in Daya Bay (South China Sea): Consumption advisory. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 150, 110717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110717 Werre-Keeman, F. J., y Rodarte, G. A. 1999. En: Monografıa Geológico-Minera del Estado de Guerrero. Zheng, Y., Shen, Y., Zhu, Z., & Hu, H. (2020). Associations between cadmium exposure and taste and smell dysfunction: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2011–2014. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(3), 943. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files ApendixA.Tables.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4614307","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":342897899,"identity":"8b4fe2b9-6ebe-49b4-8826-9a392c7f9af8","order_by":0,"name":"Martín Ubaldo Escorcia-Reynoso","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Martín","middleName":"Ubaldo","lastName":"Escorcia-Reynoso","suffix":""},{"id":342897900,"identity":"898c942b-2b76-4fba-adaf-50509fd2180b","order_by":1,"name":"Sergio Adrián Salgado-Souto","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA/klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCCBCDmA2IJhgpStLCBtZwhxSawFsY2IlTKt/c+fvGgok6ejX/xwxsf5x2Wl48+fIDpJh69BmeOm1kknDls2CbxzNhy5rbDhhvPpSUw5+BxoYFEGptBYtsBxjaJA2bSvNsOM27s4TFgzsETDvLzn4G01Nm3SRz/Js0757A9RIsBHs/cYGN+kNjGnNjG3wO0peFw4nweArYYnEljYwD6JblNgqfYcsax9OQNPGwJh/H5Rb79GPPHHxV1tv38xzfe+FBjbTu/h/ng41z8oc0mAaYkEqD2HmBgOIBXAwMD8wcwxQ9VJ99AQP0oGAWjYBSMOAAAJlJSGdthbDgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sergio","middleName":"Adrián","lastName":"Salgado-Souto","suffix":""},{"id":342897901,"identity":"d18c8e6f-93d3-4031-aa66-d9a011f88d76","order_by":2,"name":"Rafael Del Rio-Salas","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rafael","middleName":"Del","lastName":"Rio-Salas","suffix":""},{"id":342897902,"identity":"f95f4528-4f6f-4a52-bbeb-05954779954b","order_by":3,"name":"Oscar Talavera-Mendoza","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Oscar","middleName":"","lastName":"Talavera-Mendoza","suffix":""},{"id":342897903,"identity":"03a9c11b-3cd1-4ea2-89a2-4563dfb013f4","order_by":4,"name":"María Benedicta Bottini-Luzardo","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"María","middleName":"Benedicta","lastName":"Bottini-Luzardo","suffix":""},{"id":342897904,"identity":"be3ae019-df70-4560-a39f-25dc18257015","order_by":5,"name":"Guadalupe Nuñez-Martínez","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Guadalupe","middleName":"","lastName":"Nuñez-Martínez","suffix":""},{"id":342897905,"identity":"3eec3b26-ab33-4f64-9884-f47b68f4ea29","order_by":6,"name":"José Luis Aguirre-Noyola","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad (LANCIS), UNAM","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"José","middleName":"Luis","lastName":"Aguirre-Noyola","suffix":""},{"id":342897906,"identity":"b8b9eee9-3e87-44ca-8950-1e9ffc83ea4d","order_by":7,"name":"Giovanni Hernández Flores","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Giovanni","middleName":"Hernández","lastName":"Flores","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-06-21 02:00:00","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4614307/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4614307/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":62983050,"identity":"435ba84f-2992-4385-a123-953f118e8045","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:06:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":561954,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eLocation map showing the abandoned mine tailings deposits of El Fraile in the historical mining region of Taxco de Alarcón, southern Mexico (modified from Campa and Ramírez, 1979) showing the location where the goats were raised.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"11.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/376466255ba1bb1b4d235b83.jpg"},{"id":62983055,"identity":"c72e2871-97eb-4124-aefe-d9de086c514b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:06:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":564685,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePanoramic views showing portions of the El Fraile mine tailings (a). Lateral west perspective of oxidized tailings developing effloresce crusts (b). View of the drainage channels for rainwater from the El Fraile tailings, where the precipitation of iron hydroxides from the acid mine drainage can be seen (c). Sidewall toxicant traps (d) containing oxidized mine tailings material and efflorescent mineral crusts (g). Water intake from acid mine drainage with abundant precipitation of iron hydroxide on the sides of the El Fraile tailings (e). View of a herd of goats grazing on the bushes that grow on the mining tailings of El Fraile (f).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"12.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/78abbd8113a61f932a8dc526.jpg"},{"id":62983056,"identity":"41f0b981-f87a-4b0c-9c14-4ca82ebeb41f","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:06:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":3,"title":"Figure 3","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":355896,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eBox plot diagram showing a comparison between blood, muscle, brain, lung, rumen, liver, kidney edible tissues, besides of urine, feces, hair and bezoars samples. Lower guideline valuesof permissible limits for Mexican Official Standard of the Secretary of Agriculture and Hydraulic Resources (NOM-004-ZOO-1994) (a). Lower guideline value (b) according to Codex Alimentarius (1989). Lower and upper guideline values (c) according to Fergusson (1990).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"13.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/b09a63bbdda5fce631cbf9c7.jpg"},{"id":62983254,"identity":"622b1fd6-0d3f-4b86-aa7c-fb1d3c0af7ee","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:14:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":4,"title":"Figure 4","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":289891,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eBar graph of the concentration (µg L\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e) of Pb, Cd and As in blood, urine, and feces of the studied goats.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"14.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/3b79fe2951bf2038401c4009.jpg"},{"id":62983800,"identity":"aa1a606a-179a-4770-868d-dd69b7460241","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:30:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":293494,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eBar graph of the concentration (µg kg\u003csup\u003e-1\u003c/sup\u003e) of Pb, Cd and As in bezoars and hair of the studied goats. Hair D means dirty hair, and Hair C means clean hair during the. acid digestion.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"15.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/52a67ae3914578f9815275da.jpg"},{"id":62983049,"identity":"f5d82ca9-fb66-4fcf-9a90-dc1d2ceca005","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:06:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":550194,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eScanning Electron Microscope imaging of dirty hair, where it is showed fine particles attached to the hair of the goats exposed to TE.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"16.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/d152057ae1030acf2f422ef0.jpg"},{"id":62983622,"identity":"5c0d16b8-387e-4579-a763-d5d9b0427d77","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:22:38","extension":"jpg","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":276770,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, \u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, and \u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb ratios of blood, urine and bezoars samples from studied goats the mining region of Taxco de Alarcón, southern Mexico. Also shown the compositional field of the rocks from the Tilzapotla, Balsas, Mexcala, Morelos, and Taxco schist formations. Available Pb isotope data of rocks from the study area from Arroyo-Diaz et al., (2022);\u0026nbsp; Talavera et al. (2016) and Vázquez-Bahena et al. (2017). The Pb compositional field from Tilzapotla Fm (pink color), Balsas Fm (yellow color); Mexcala Fm (light green color); Morelos Fm (dark green color); Taxco Schist Fm (gray color); sulfide mineralization (orange color) according to Cummings (1979) and Vázquez-Bahena et al. (2017).\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"17.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/234d78259f69b49c14dceb08.jpg"},{"id":65610589,"identity":"48189058-90e2-4c94-896d-b76846c78564","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-09-30 13:24:57","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3872872,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/03798526-f342-4b8f-9ea8-24a42a79a1ae.pdf"},{"id":62983257,"identity":"b1407477-c095-4359-ace8-c4d55650ca98","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-21 18:14:38","extension":"docx","order_by":13,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":146359,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ApendixA.Tables.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4614307/v1/dd6a529fba6f3deda61cb3b4.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Assessing bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in Goats: Impacts of exposure to mine tailings in a polymetallic mining region","fulltext":[{"header":"Highlights","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u0026bull; Pb, Cd, and As concentrations in edible tissue of goats do not exceed recommended values.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026bull; Pb, Cd, and As values in urine, faces, and hair indicate toxic elements exposure and pollution.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026bull; Pb isotope ratios in urine, blood, and hair indicate the contribution of toxic elements from mine tailings\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026bull; El Fraile mine tailings influence toxic elements contents in the living beings of the region.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"1. INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eLead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) are at the top of the list of the five toxic elements (TE) of most concern for public health and the environment since they produce several adverse effects in human beings (Pan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e). Because Pb, Cd, and As are not essential for life, there are no threshold limits below which they can be considered safe (e.g. Seraj and Rahman, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR64\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e; Peana et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). In the environment or animal/human tissue, Pb, Cd, and As are among the most harmful chemical pollutants. This is due to their ability to access different trophic levels of ecosystems to bioaccumulate and magnify, and to their almost zero capacity for biodegradation (Sarker et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR62\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Once these TE are consumed, they persist in the body for a considerable time and, depending on the degree of exposure, induce acute or chronic exposure in the host (Munir et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). TE often mimic the chemical features of essential elements like calcium and magnesium; therefore, the TE gain access to critical cellular functions, leading to their bioaccumulation. TE are generally bound to biomolecules (proteins, enzymes, phospholipids, and hormones) to form chemical complexes that produce harmful alterations such as DNA damage, carcinogenesis, and detrimental cell cycle. Fergusson (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e) listed the principally hazardous effects and diseases that Pb, Cd, and As produce in the human body. Pb exposure could produce chromosomal abnormalities, toxicity to a fetus, decreased fertility in women, altered spermatogenesis, reduce peripheral nerve conduction, reduce hemoglobin synthesis, impaired kidney function, anemia, peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy (Pan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e; Rebelo and Caldas, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e). Cd exposure may generate lungs, kidneys, and bons affectations like bronchitis, pneumonitis, pulmonary emphysema, proteinuria, renal damage, and Itai Itai disease (Okereafor et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Munir et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; Njoga et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). Exposure to As could produce intense abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, coma, and death (Pan et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2012\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMine tailings increase the concentrations of Pb, Cd and As until 1,000 times the background or regional geochemical baselines levels, therefore mine waste represents one of the most important sources of TE in the Earth's crust (e.g., Dudka and Adriano, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1997\u003c/span\u003e; Okereafor et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Mining has been an important activity in the region of Taxco de Alarc\u0026oacute;n, southern Mexico, for more than five centuries, genereting more than 55\u0026nbsp;million tons of mine tailings (Werre-Keeman and Rodarte, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR79\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e, Talavera et al., 2006) that were deposited preferably near the banks of the rivers (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). In the community of El Fraile, two mine tailings (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), the La Concha (~\u0026thinsp;0.6\u0026nbsp;million tons of waste) and the El Fraile (~\u0026thinsp;2.0\u0026nbsp;million tons of waste) were accumulated on the banks of the Cacalatenango river (Talavera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e). However, villagers herd their goats and cattle above the El Fraile mine tailings because of the abundant grow of fresh grass and shrubs (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Due to their agility and voracious appetite, goats roam these areas several times a day in search of food (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e); where plants such as wild grass and huizache (\u003cem\u003eVachellia farnesiana\u003c/em\u003e) are among the preferred ones. Unfortunately, these plants hyper accumulative TE (Hern\u0026aacute;ndez and Pastor, 2008), and when they are ingested by goats, the risk of TE bioaccumulating in the goats' tissues increases (Duruibe et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe main objective of this research was to perform an exploratory assessment regarding the bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in edible meat of goats reared close to the El Fraile mine tailings. The studied edible tissues included muscle, brain, long, liver, and kidney tissues, along with blood, urine, feces, and hair. The information obtained was used to evaluate the potential risk that mine tailings represent for residents since those who live near the mine tailings may breathe mine tailings particles and use the leachate water for domestic purposes and irrigation. Thus, in this work, goats are considered sentinels of TE exposure related to mine tailings. Additionally, Pb isotope composition was determined to trace the source of Pb found in the goats. The data provided may help estimate the risk represented by meat consumption from this type of cattle and identify which of the studied matrices is the best bioindicator of TE exposure.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2. ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK","content":"\u003cp\u003eTaxco de Alarc\u0026oacute;n is located north of the state of Guerrero in southern Mexico (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). The main lithological units in the region include the rocks of the Lower Cretaceous Taxco Schist Formation, the Albian-Cenomanian limestone of the Morelos Formation, the Cenomanian-Turonian sandstone and shale of the Mexcala Formation, the Paleogene red beds and conglomerates of the Balsas Formation, and Oligocene felsic volcanic rocks of the Tilzapotla Formation (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e) (Campa and Ram\u0026iacute;rez, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1979\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis region has been one of the largest producers of metals in Mexico, and locals have practiced mining for more than 500 years (Armienta et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e; Talavera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; 2006). At least eight mine tailings were deposited in this municipality with high concentrations of TE (Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Se, and Zn) (Talavera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e). In particular, the El Fraile mine tailings deposit (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e) is located southwest of Taxco de Alarc\u0026oacute;n city, near the boundary between the El Fraile and Santa Rosa villages, where the mining activity was suspended\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;1970 (G\u0026oacute;mez-Bernal et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). The El Fraile mine tailings are made up of two separate but very close reservoirs (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e) that together hold a volume of 7,191,000 m\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e (Talavera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e; Olea and Z\u0026uacute;\u0026ntilde;iga, 2009; Galarza Z, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2009\u003c/span\u003e). The tailings materials are mostly oxidized and developed efflorescent crusts composed of iron hydroxides and sulfates. Sidewall toxicant traps (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003ed and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eg) also contain oxidized mine tailings material and efflorescent mineral crusts, which often contain high concentrations of TE and are highly soluble (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As on the El Fraile mine tailings is 6,166.0, 5.8, and 3,744.3 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively (Talavera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR71\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2005\u003c/span\u003e). Leachates from these deposits are discharged with a different flow rate the entire year along the Cacalotenango River, impacting the river water with Pb (~\u0026thinsp;0.01 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), Cd (~\u0026thinsp;0.005 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), and As (~\u0026thinsp;0.022 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) (Ruiz and Armienta, 2012; Dotor et al., 2014).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh concentrations in soils (Pb\u0026thinsp;~\u0026thinsp;1334.83 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e and As ~\u0026thinsp;89.02 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), roots and stalks of maize plants from agricultural plots (Pb: 0.93\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.88 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Cd:0.33\u0026ndash;5.65 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, and As:0.42\u0026ndash;4.62 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) have been reported (D\u0026iacute;az-Villase\u0026ntilde;or, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e). Also, high lead blood concentrations (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;10 \u0026micro;g dL\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) were determined in women of reproductive age from the Santa Rosa and the El Fraile communities (V\u0026aacute;zquez-Bahena et al., 2017).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRaising goats is a common economic activity in the rural communities belonging to the municipality of Taxco de Alarc\u0026oacute;n (e.g., El Fraile, Santa Rosa, Dolores, Tecalpulco, Campuzano). The goat meat plays an important role in the regional cuisine since various butcher shops sell the traditional Guerrero-style barbecued goat. Locals who raise goats in the Santa Rosa and the El Fraile region increase their profits by herding the goats over the El Fraile tailings (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003ef). Unfortunately, the growth of grass and \u0026ldquo;huizache\u0026rdquo; plants \u003cem\u003e(Vachellia farnesiana )\u003c/em\u003e over mine tailings can potentially bioaccumulate TE in their tissues (root, stem, leaves, and fruits) (Chaney et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1997\u003c/span\u003e; Becerril et al., 2007; Landeros et al., 2011).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3. MATERIALS AND METHODS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Experimental phase\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFour creole-breed male goats (four months old) were selected for the experimental phase with an average weight of 13 kg. The four goats were obtained from a farm located in the community (Coacoyula de \u0026Aacute;lvarez, Guerrero) with non-pollution records by mine waste. The experimental phase was divided into two time periods that consisted of (1) adaptation, which lasted three months (May - July 2017), and (b) exposure, which lasted six months (August 2017 - January 2018), where the blood and urine samples were taken monthly. Three goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) were placed and raised during the experimental phase on land in the community of Santa Rosa, less than 60 meters from the El Fraile mine tailings (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). A fourth goat (CX-04), that represents the control one, was taken to a community (Santiago Temixco) 7 km to the southwest of Santa Rosa, which is free of mine waste pollution. During the adaptation period, the goats were attended with food and water free of toxic elements. Subsequently, the goats began to be exposed to TE by being fed with maize cultivated (0.45 kg per day) next to the El Fraile mine tailings and consumed water from leachates of mine tailings and from the Cacalotenango River, following the routine of locals. The control goat in both periods of the experimental phase consumed food and water free of mine tailings pollution.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Sample collection\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2.1 Water and grass\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe water samples were collected in polyethylene bottles prewashed with nitric acid (50%) during the dry season. Three water samples were taken from different points of the Cacalotenango River, as well as two water samples from the ravine located in the lower part of the El Fraile mine tailings, where leachates are discharged (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Five grass samples were taken from the area where the goats grazed within 30 meters of the El Fraile tailings. The grass samples (\u003cem\u003eCynodon dactylon\u003c/em\u003e) were collected in disposable polyethylene bags, washed with MQ water in the laboratory to remove any residue, and stored in brown paper bags; then, the grass samples were dried in an oven at 80\u0026deg;C. Subsequently, the \u003cem\u003eCynodon dactylon\u003c/em\u003e samples were crushed and sieved to a diameter of 5 mm and stored in bags until acid digestion.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2.2 Blood, urine, and feces\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood samples were taken from each goat through jugular vein puncture in 6 mL Vacutainer tubes with anticoagulant. They were then taken to the laboratory and stored at -20\u0026deg;C. The urine and feces samples were taken from spontaneous excretions and collected in sterile 120 mL polyethylene containers. Approximately 30 mL of urine and 15 g of feces samples were collected from each goat, labeled, and stored at -20\u0026deg;C.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2.3 Sacrifice of the goats\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sacrifice of the goats was carried out following the methodology of the Official Mexican Standard NOM-033-SAG/ZOO-2014 to sacrifice domestic and wild animals. The procedures carried out in this research were authorized by the Bioethics Committee of the Autonomous University of Guerrero. The sacrifice was carried out by a qualified and trained person (veterinarian) in the matter, in compliance with the appropriate protocol.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2.4 Soft tissues\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe soft tissue samples (muscle, brain, rumen, lung, liver, and kidney) were taken after the sacrifice of the goats; the samples were stored in polyethylene bags and placed in a cooler for conservation. Subsequently, the samples were taken to the laboratory and stored in a freezer at -20\u0026deg;C.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2.5 Bezoar and hair\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSamples of bezoars (hairballs formed in goat rumen because of grooming to themselves) were found in the rumen at the time of necropsy. It should be noted that of the three goats exposed to toxic elements, only goats CX-01 and CX-03 presented bezoars. These samples were stored in polyethylene bags in a cooler for their conservation and taken to the laboratory for storage at -20\u0026deg;C. During the experiment, each month, a lock of hair was cut from the back of each goat, stored in a labeled sterile 120 mL polyethylene jar, and kept at -20\u0026deg;C.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3 Sample preparation\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec12\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3.1 Blood, urine, feces, bezoars, hair, and grass\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood, urine, feces, bezoars, hair, and grass samples were digested by the wet method for the measurements of TE (Licata et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR42\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e). From each goat, 5 mL of blood, 10 mL of urine, 1 g of feces, 0.30 g of bezoars, 0.3 g of hair, and 0.5 g of grass were individually placed in ultra-clean Savillex vials, which were previously pre-washed with 2% nitric acid (HNO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e) and MQ water. The samples were predigested with 10 mL of 8M HNO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e on a hot plate at 135\u0026deg;C until dryness. Subsequently, 5 mL of hydrogen peroxide (H\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003eO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e) was added, and the temperature was kept at 135\u0026deg;C for one hour until the sample dried and showed a light color.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3.2 Soft tissues\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor total and wet digestion of the soft tissue samples (muscle, brain, rumen, lung, liver, and kidney), 0.5 g of sample were weighted in ultra-clean Savillex pumps. Subsequently, the samples were digested with 5 mL of 8M HNO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e on a hot plate at 130\u0026deg;C. Later, 5 mL of peroxide was added and kept on the hot plate for one hour until evaporation. The addition of HNO\u003csub\u003e3\u003c/sub\u003e and peroxide was repeated to eliminate organic matter.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4 Elemental concentrations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eElemental concentrations of water, grass, blood, feces, hair, and soft tissue samples were measured at the Laboratory of Geochemistry (LG) of the Autonomous University of Guerrero, while blood, urine, and bezoar samples were analyzed at the Emerging Pollutants Laboratory (ALEC) of the University of Arizona. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As were determined in a Perkin Elmer Optima 3200 (LG) and Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) Emission Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP-MS). The accuracy and precision of the analytical methods were monitored using the reference standard Lyphochek Whole Blood Metals Control, Level 3, #529, for the quantification of Pb, Cd, and As in blood, urine, bezoars, and soft tissues. For the quantification of the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As, the equipment was calibrated with routine standards (CWW-TM-D; CWW-TM-H; CWW-TM-A; CWW-TM-E), Inorganic Ventures (Christiansburg, VA), and High-Purity Standards (North Charleston, SC). The detection limit of the equipment was 0.010 mg L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.5 Lead isotope measurements\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor the determination of the Pb isotope ratios, 5 mL of blood, urine, bezoars, and water samples were used. Sample preparation for Pb isotope ratios was carried out by chromatographic methods following the procedure described by Thibodeau et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR74\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). The isotope ratios of Pb were determined in 35 and 10 ppb solutions, and the isotopic fractionation was monitored by the analysis of the NBS-981 certified standard \u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb=16.9405; \u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb=15.4963 and \u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb = 36.7219 (Galer and Abouchami, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e). The error was calculated from the reproducibility of the NBS-981 standard throughout each measurement; the external errors (2 σ) were 0.0034\u0026ndash;0.0140% (\u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb), 0.0036\u0026ndash;0.0136% (\u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb), and 0.0099\u0026ndash;0.0333% (\u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1 Accumulation of TE\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003eA shows the data of the response variables of goats exposed to Pb, Cd, and As, as well as the control goat. The goats showed a constant increase in weight and growth throughout the experiment. Regarding the three goats exposed to TE, goat CX-01 was always the heaviest and largest; followed by goat CX-02 and goat CX-03, which always showed smaller dimensions. Control goat CX-04 always had the largest dimensions of all goats.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec18\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e\u003cem\u003e4.1.1 Water, Cynodon dactylon, Zea mays\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eand Vachellia farnesiana\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA shows the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As in water samples from the mine tailings of the El Fraile and the Cacalotenango River, in addition to samples of maize (\u003cem\u003eZea mays)\u003c/em\u003e, grass (\u003cem\u003eCynodon dactylon)\u003c/em\u003e, and huizache (\u003cem\u003eVachellia farnesiana)\u003c/em\u003e plants, which were used to feed goats. The water river sample showed concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5, 9, and 10 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively, whereas the leachates (from mine tailings) sample presented concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As of 2.6, 2.3, and 0.1 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively (Arroyo-Diaz, 2019). These concentrations suggest that most of these data (river water and leachate samples) were below the Mexican reference values of water for human use and consumption (NOM-127, 1994), and wastewater discharges (NOM-001 SEMARNAT, 2021), as well as the recommended values for water consumption according to the European Union (European Council of the European Union, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1998\u003c/span\u003e) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eZea mays\u003c/em\u003e samples showed concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As of 1.24, 5.12, and 4.31 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively (D\u0026iacute;az-Villase\u0026ntilde;or, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e; Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA); whereas lower concentrations were found in grass samples (Pb\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.16 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Cd\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.096 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, and As =\u0026thinsp;0.096 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e; this study) and \u003cem\u003eVachellia farnesiana\u003c/em\u003e plants (Pb\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.144 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Cd\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.087 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, and As =\u0026thinsp;0.072 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e; Cervantes-Ram\u0026iacute;rez et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). According to the maximum recommended daily dose limits for Pb, Cd, and As for humans and/or animals, the intake should not exceed 10, 5, and 15 \u0026micro;g day\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively (Pandey and Madhuri, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). The exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, CX-03) exceeded these limits, as they consumed around 153, 118, and 126 \u0026micro;g of Pb, Cd, and As, respectively, each day through the consumption of grass, maize, sweet acacia, and water.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec19\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.1.2 Edible tissues\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e shows the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As in edible tissue samples from the muscle, brain, rumen, lung, liver, and kidney of the goats studied. In general, the lowest concentrations were found in the muscle, brain, and lung tissues, while higher concentrations were found in the rumen, liver, and kidney tissues (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConcentration of TE of edible and visors tissues (mg kg-1) of exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) and control goat (CX-04)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGoat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElement\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMuscle\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBrain\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRumen\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLung\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiver\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eKidney\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.513\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.204\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.245\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.029\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.049\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.012\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.029\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.049\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.042\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.023\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.111\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.042\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.023\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.111\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.056\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.130\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.024\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.034\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.060\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.024\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.034\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.060\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.050\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.095\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.019\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.021\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.050\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.095\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticularly, the samples of muscle, brain, and lung tissues showed Pb concentrations below the detection limit (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.025 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), while Cd and As were slightly higher between 6 and 42 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, respectively (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Instead, rumen tissue of the goat CX-01 yielded a Pb concentration of 0.513 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, clearly higher than the rest of the goats, whose concentrations were below the detection limit (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.025 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), whereas Cd and As in rumen tissue yielded concentrations ranging from 0.011 to 0.023 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Liver and kidney tissue showed slightly higher concentrations, where Pb was in both type of tissues in a range between 0.056 and 0.245 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, while Cd and As in the liver were within the range of 0.029 and 0.034 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, and in the kidney within 0.049 to 0.111 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLead concentrations in the edible tissues of muscles, brain, and lungs are well below any permissible limit, while in liver and kidney samples showed higher, but still below the permissible values of the Mexican Official Standard, FAO (1989), USEPA (2002); and Chinese Food Health Criterion (GB 2762\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2017; Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA), and barely similar to those of the Codex Alimentarius (CXS-193-1995) in a range of 50\u0026ndash;100 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003ea). The maximum permissible intake of Pb in food is between 75\u0026ndash;150 \u0026micro;g d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e for a human adult and 100 to 50 \u0026micro;g d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e for children, with an absorption that varying from adult to child from 10 to 50% (Fergusson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e). Thus, the intake of 200 g of goat meat with a concentration of 100 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e would represent an intake of just 20 \u0026micro;g and an absorption of 2 \u0026micro;g for an adult and 5\u0026ndash;10 \u0026micro;g for children, indicating a minimum danger for human health. After TE ingestion in humans, lead is distributed to different organs, mainly bones, kidneys, and liver, having the ability to cross the blood-brain and placental barriers, increasing bioaccumulation in the brain and in the fetus of exposed living beings (Okereafor et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Animal meat for human consumption is considered safe when blood lead levels are below background levels during three consecutive samplings at least three weeks apart (Sharpe and Livesey, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR66\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2006\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn goats, lead affects various physiological processes in the body leading to neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal damage, oxidative stress, kidney and liver dysfunction, inhibition of the enzyme system associated with hemoglobin and calcium synthesis and metabolism of vitamin D, endocrine disruption, and other cellular disturbances (Swarup and Dwivedi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e; Patra et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e; Slivinska et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR67\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Lead also affects the reproductive system (Verma et al., 2020), and most of the findings indicate a higher tolerance to lead in sheep and goats compared to cattle. However, goats, although they can tolerate chronic doses of up to 400 mg per kg of body weight, can also exhibit cumulative lethal toxicity with predominant signs of central nervous system, following prolonged exposure to lead (Swarup and Dwivedi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Lead mimics calcium and zinc at the cellular level, which is suggested to be one of the mechanisms of neuropathy. Typical values for lead in ruminants have ranged between 0.05 and 0.25 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e in whole blood, and the upper limit for lead in the liver has been set at 1 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. Poisoned animals have a blood lead concentration greater than 0.35 mg kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. Although animals with less severe clinical signs may recover, tissue lead concentrations may remain elevated for months or years, subsequently posing a potential problem with lead residues in the food chain (Bates and Payne, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCadmium concentrations in muscle, brain, and lung tissues did not show differences with Cd concentrations in rumen, liver, and kidney samples (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eb). All the edible tissues presented Cd concentrations far below the Mexican guideline for control of toxic residues in meat, fat, liver, and kidney of goats (NOM-004-ZOO,1994; \u0026lt;10,000\u0026ndash;2,000 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e). Except for kidney tissue, muscle, brain, lung, rumen and liver tissues presented Cd concentration below to the Codex Alimentarius (CXS-193-1995; 500 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), FAO (1989; 1000 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) ; USEPA (2002; 1400 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), Chinese Food Health Criterion (GB 2762\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2017; 100\u0026ndash;1000 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA), but within a permissible range for foods which is 10 to 40 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e. Fergusson (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e) defined that the permissible intake of Cd through food for an adult is between 15 and 60 \u0026micro;g d\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, with an absorption of 6%. Therefore, an intake of 200 g of any of these edible tissues with an average concentration of 50 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e would represent an intake of 10 \u0026micro;g, which is close to the minimum daily intake value for this metal.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCadmium is an extremely toxic metal with a destructive impact on most organ systems (Bernhoft, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2013\u003c/span\u003e). After absorption in humans, cadmium accumulates rapidly in the kidneys and liver (Patra et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Cadmium readily binds to metallothionein, a cysteine-rich protein that binds to metals, and induces their production. This causes cadmium retention in tissues, as well as a longer (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;10 years in humans) residence time (Hooser, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). Cadmium also inhibits the production of essential enzymes for the Kreb cycle, affects normal cell proliferation and differentiation, and increases apoptosis. The induction of oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the main route of cadmium toxicity (Rebelo and Caldas, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Njoga et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e). These effects cause DNA damage and interfere with DNA repair mechanisms. Accidental ingestion of large amounts of cadmium causes acute nephrotoxicity and liver damage in goats. In addition to the more obvious symptoms of toxicity, cadmium exposure is associated with subtle subclinical effects such as oxidative stress, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, poor reproductive performance, and poor weight gain (Swarup and Dwivedi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR68\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2002\u003c/span\u003e). Long-term exposure to cadmium increases lipid peroxidation and causes inhibition of superoxide dismutase activity, leading to oxidative stress in the liver, kidneys, and testicles (Patra et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1999\u003c/span\u003e). Animals deficient in calcium, iron, and zinc are more prone to cadmium toxicity (Alonso et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2004\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eArsenic concentrations in edible tissue samples of muscle, brain, lung, rumen, liver, and kidney are well below the values established in Mexican guideline for for control of toxic residues in meat, fat, liver and kidney of goats (NOM-004-ZOO-1994 (500-2,000 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), FAO, 1989; USEPA, 2002; and Chinese Food Health Criterion (GB 2762\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2017), and barely below to those of the Codex Alimentarius (CXS-193-1995; 100 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003eb). The arsenic intake through food for an adult should not exceed the range of 10\u0026ndash;40 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e by day for adults and 1\u0026ndash;5 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e by day for children (Fergusson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e). Since the absorption of arsenic in humans varies from 25 to 100% depending on the nature of the arsenic species, an intake of 200 g of edible tissues from these goats would represent an intake of 6 to 10 \u0026micro;g, which is very close to the value minimum allowed and occur since a single source (Fergusson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e; Liu ZP, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2003\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eArsenic, after absorption in animals, preferentially accumulates in the liver and is slowly distributed to other tissues. The spleen, kidneys, and lungs can also accumulate high concentrations of arsenic (Rebelo and Caldas, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Ortega-Morales et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Organs with tissues rich in oxidative enzymes are strongly affected. Thus, the liver is the best organ to diagnose acute poisoning, while the kidney can contain moderate concentrations and help diagnose chronic poisoning (Radostits et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR58\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e). Therefore, As in the urine is maintained for several days after exposure (Swarup and Dwivedi, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR69\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2011\u003c/span\u003e). Despite goats being exposed to toxic elements, Pb, Cd, and As concentrations found in blood and edible tissues were very low, suggesting that the meat of goats raised in this region under these conditions does not represent a major risk for the people\u0026rsquo;s health who get used to consume as food.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec20\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.2 Bioindicators of TE exposure\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eTables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e show the concentration of Pb, Cd, and As in samples of blood, urine, feces, hair, and bezoar from the studied goats. Blood samples showed low concentrations of Pb (5.8\u0026ndash;13.2 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), Cd (0.1\u0026ndash;0.35 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), and As (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;DL) (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). The TE concentrations determined in the blood of exposed goats were lower than the minimum permissible values to produce chronic poisoning (Pb\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;100 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, Cd\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e, As =\u0026thinsp;10 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) (ATSDR, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2007\u003c/span\u003e; Jubril et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Nevertheless, the fact that Pb was detected in blood samples confirms the TE exposure of goats and that traces of the TE were circulating in the bloodstream, triggering potential adverse effects in organs and the nervous system (Cretacci and Parsons, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb, Cd and As concentration of blood samples of of exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) and control goat (CX-04).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGoat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood Sampling months\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb (\u0026micro;g/dL)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd (mg/L)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs (mg/L)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMay-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.010\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.010\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJun-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAugost-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeptember-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJanuary-2018*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00032\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFebruary-2018\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMay-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJun-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAugost-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeptember-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJanuary-2018*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.0002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFebruary-2018\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMay-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.006\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJun-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAugost-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeptember-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJanuary-2018*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.22\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00007\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFebruary-2018\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMay-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.005\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJun-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAugost-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSeptember-2017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJanuary-2018*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.58\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00035\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFebruary-2018\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eND\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e* Sampling month used for the evaluation.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eND of Pb\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.5 \u0026micro;g D\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eND of Cd\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eND of Pb\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;10 \u0026micro;g D\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConcentration of TE in urine, feces, hair and bezoar samples of exposed goats (CX-01, CX-02, and CX-03) and control goat (CX-04).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGoats\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb (\u0026micro;g/L)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd (\u0026micro;g/L)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs (\u0026micro;g/L)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eurine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eurine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eurine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e836\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.32\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e148\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e89\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efeces\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efeces\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003efeces\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33098.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e327.35\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e363.72\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1270.67\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e302.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e302.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1331.85\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e166.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e208.10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e61.80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e123.61\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb (\u0026micro;g/kg)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd (\u0026micro;g/kg)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs (\u0026micro;g/kg)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ebezoar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ebezoar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ebezoar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e921\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e993\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17767\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e841\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eunclean hair\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eunclean hair\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eunclean hair\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.00\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80.34\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1048.95\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e104.90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e209.79\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2002.97\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e111.28\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e222.55\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;DL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65.33\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCd \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs \u0026micro;g/kg\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eclean hair\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eclean hair\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eclean hair\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;DL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e723.86\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e643.43\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e182.48\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60.83\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e536.54\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e229.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e229.94\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;DL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e83.99\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrine samples showed slightly higher concentrations of Pb (19\u0026ndash;70 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) and Cd (0.3-1 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e); however, As concentrations were much higher (89\u0026ndash;836 \u0026micro;g L\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), at least three orders of magnitude greater than those in blood. The control goat had only 20%, 0.12%, and 10% of the average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As in the urine of the three exposed goats, respectively, demonstrating its role as a control organism. The data obtained from urine samples confirm arsenic as an effective biomarker for tracing As exposure in goats (Bera et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2010\u003c/span\u003e). Similarly, feces of the three exposed goats showed the highest concentrations of Pb (1,270\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;33,100 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), Cd (167\u0026ndash;327 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), and As (208\u0026ndash;364 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) across all studied matrices, whereas the concentrations of the control goat did not exceed 0.5%, 23% and 21% of the mean of Pb, Cd, and As of the exposed goats. The urine and feces concentrations suggest that these excretes are an efficient mechanism to eliminate large amounts of TE from their organism, avoiding their bioaccumulation in the edible tissues and chronic toxicity in goats.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHair is one of the most used bioindicators because it is the least invasive, easiest to collect, and most suitable for recording TE bioaccumulation for several weeks (Fergusson, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1990\u003c/span\u003e). Bezoars found in two exposed goats (CX-1 and CX-3; Fig. \u003cspan refid=\"MOESM1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eS1\u003c/span\u003e) showed relatively high concentrations of Pb (921\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;17,767 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), Cd (42\u0026ndash;724 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e), and As (841\u0026ndash;993 \u0026micro;g kg\u003csup\u003e\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1\u003c/sup\u003e) (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). The high concentration in bezoars is explained by the bioaccumulation in the hair, or by the presence of fine TE particles attached to the goats\u0026rsquo; hair (Fragoso-Arbelo et al., 2002). Therefore, two different samples of goat loin hair were evaluated: i) unclean hair with particulate matter attached to their surface (Hair D), and ii) clean hair, rinsed with MQ water (Hair C). The concentrations of unclean hair (Pb: 1,049\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2,003 \u0026micro;g/kg; Cd: 11\u0026ndash;80 \u0026micro;g/kg; and As: 80\u0026ndash;223 \u0026micro;g/kg) and clean hair (Pb: 182\u0026ndash;536 \u0026micro;g/kg; Cd: 61\u0026ndash;724 \u0026micro;g/kg; and As: 61\u0026ndash;643 \u0026micro;g/kg), with the exception of Pb, were not significantly different (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05). Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e shows SEM images of fine particulate matter impregnated in goats\u0026rsquo; hair and X-diffraction of those particles, displaying the abundance of the most enriched elements (Cr, Ni, Fe, Si, Al, Sn, K, and Mg). The control goat hair showed the least particulate matter and the least TE concentrations (Pb: \u0026lt; DL \u0026micro;g/kg; Cd:42\u0026ndash;65 \u0026micro;g/kg; and As:65\u0026ndash;84 \u0026micro;g/kg).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec21\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.3 Source of lead\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Pb isotope composition of blood, urine, and bezoar samples from exposed goats, river water, and leachates are shown in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e. The water from the Cacalotenango River and leachates from the El Fraile tailings exhibit an extremely homogenous composition of the \u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, \u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, and \u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb ratios, ranging from 18.741 to 18.750, 15.646 to 15.654, and 38.692 to 38.714, respectively (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e). The blood samples showed \u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, \u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, and \u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb isotope ratios ranging from 18.715 to 18.772, 15.460 to 15.666, and 38.562 to 38.708, respectively, whereas urine showed a more heterogeneous isotope composition yielding \u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, \u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, and \u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb ratios ranging from 18.737 to 18.301, 15.657 to 15.634, and 38.717 to 38.186, respectively. The bezoars showed a composition relatively similar to those of the blood samples with \u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, \u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb, and \u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb ratios ranging from 18.722 to 18.720, 15.651 to 15.631, and 38.666 to 38.613, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePb isotopes data from blood, urine and bezoars of the goats, as well as the water from the area where the goats exposed to toxic elements (CX-01, CX-02 and CX-03) and the control goats (CX-04).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGoat\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eType of sample\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e206\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e207\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003e208\u003c/sup\u003ePb/\u003csup\u003e204\u003c/sup\u003ePb\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.73624\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.64760\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.66491\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.71586\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.64017\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.61911\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.75299\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.66693\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.70827\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBlood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.77299\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.64774\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.56202\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.73730\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65746\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.71787\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-02\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.52837\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.64411\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.43521\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.70549\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65482\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.67151\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-04\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUrine\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.30119\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.63460\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.18617\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-01\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBezoar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.72274\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65104\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.66698\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCX-03\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBezoar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.72057\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.63136\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.61367\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrinking water\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.75075\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65405\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.71477\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eB2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrinking water\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.75011\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65218\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.71129\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrinking water\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.74866\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65107\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.70431\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrinking water\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.74657\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.65081\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.70461\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eR2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDrinking water\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e18.74148\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e15.64660\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.69273\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBased on Pb isotope data, V\u0026aacute;zquez et al. (\u003cspan citationid=\"CR76\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2017\u003c/span\u003e) demonstrated the influence of mine tailings as an important source of Pb and other TE that are dispersed through the environmental media. However, these authors found that humans are exposed to more Pb sources, including, for instance, indoor dust, paints, gasoline, cigarettes, and glazed pottery. Since goats were confined to a specific location with controlled feeding and water intake, the Pb isotope composition of blood, urine, and bezoar samples suggests that the main source of Pb in goats living in the vicinity of the El Fraile mine tailings is the residual mineralization in the mine tailings (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e). The geochemical and isotope data provided in this research demonstrate the negative health impact that mine tailings represent for most living beings in historical mining regions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec22\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e4.4 TE distribution in the environment\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe El Fraile mine tailings have been present for over 70 years (Talavera-Mendoza et al., 2005); during this time, oxidation and erosion triggered the dispersion of TE to river water, soils (mainly used for agriculture purposes), and air (Talavera-Mendoza et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR73\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e; Arroyo-Diaz et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2022\u003c/span\u003e). Since TE (e.g., Pb: 3,677 mg/kg; Cd: 39.5 mg/kg; As: 1,324 mg/kg; Talavera-Mendoza et al., 2005) have been released from mine tailings into the environment, they could be ingested by living beings such as plants, animals, and humans through different various pathways (e.g., inhalation, dermal, and oral ingestion). Because some families have been raising goats for more than 40 years, grazing them mainly around and on top of the mine tailings (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), there is great concern about the exposure of goats to TE in small, chronic, and constant doses through ingestion of grass and bush shoots, as well as ingestion of river water impacted by mine tailings leachates, and/or inhalation of mine tailings particles.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSince Pb, Cd, and As are at the top of the list of most harmful TE (Okereafor et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR50\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e; Munir et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e; Njoga et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e), the goats can suffer several health damages. Thus, goats exposed to Pb may yield high levels of Pb in blood, triggering a significant reduction in erythrocyte parameters and a significant increase in platelet count values and some leukocyte parameters (Jubril et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Exposure to Cd may produce an increase in the generation of free radicals and alterations in antioxidant mechanisms and enzymatic processes (Jubril et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Goats exposed to As have shown a 2.5% decrease in body weight and respiratory rate, as well as irregularities in the heart rate (Ortega-Morales et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). All these symptoms highlight the harmful effects of TE exposure in small ruminants.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost of the experiments describing harmful effects in goats due to TE exposure were carried out using high doses in short periods (2\u0026ndash;3 months) (Ortega-Morales et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR51\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e) or with food with high TE concentrations (Bashir et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). In contrast, the present investigation used natural inputs, approaching the real conditions of the region (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003eA) for a longer period (7 months). However, it was found that edible tissues (e.g., muscle, kidney, liver) of exposed goats showed similar concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As to goat tissues exposed to high doses. In real conditions, many goats in the study region are exposed to the interaction with mine tailings waste every day during longer periods (\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;7 months), or even in a complete life cycle (10\u0026ndash;13 years), potentially representing higher TE exposure and bioaccumulation. Furthermore, the families involved in goat farming have been grazing them on and around the El Fraile mine tailings for more than 40 years. This long-standing practice increases the probability of generating health damage, bioaccumulating TE, and transferring TE from maternal blood to the fetus via the placenta. Consequently, exposure continues throughout the lives of the newborns (Roels et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR60\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1978\u003c/span\u003e; Chen et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e; Rebelo and Caldas, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR59\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2016\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhile people living around the mine tailings neither eat grass nor drink water from the tailings leachates, they use nearby land to grow vegetables and maize. Additionally, during dry times, people use mine tailings leachates for irrigating plants and crops, feeding pets and livestock, but also, for personal hygiene, house cleaning, and washing cloths and dishes. Thus, inhabitants of this region are exposed to TE. Exposure to high Pb levels could cause health problems such as distortions in hemoglobin synthesis, abnormalities in erythropoiesis and disorders in central nervous system functions (Sindhu and Sutherling, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR65\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2015\u003c/span\u003e), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, low intelligence quotient and dysfunctional behavior in children, young people and adults (Lee et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR41\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2018\u003c/span\u003e). In cases of chronic Pb exposure, adults may present hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, mental retardation, behavioral disorders, neuropsychological deficits, early cognitive impairment, and other neurological disorders. Exposure to As produces health risks and it is highly carcinogenic, especially during gastrointestinal or respiratory exposure (Hirano, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Likewise, exposure to As, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, causes skin, lung, and bladder cancers (Hong et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2014\u003c/span\u003e). Whereas exposure to Cd causes dysfunctions of both taste and smell (Zheng et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR80\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2020\u003c/span\u003e). Excessive level of Cd in the body can cause hepatotoxicity, osteoporosis, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity, and immunosuppression due to induction of apoptosis in normal human mononuclear cells (De la Fuente et al., 2020; Al-Ghafari et al. \u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). Cadmium is involved in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (Hildebrand et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e), by decreasing pancreatic insulin production and increasing insulin resistance (Njoga et al., \u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2021\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"5. CONCLUSIONS","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis research evaluated exposure to Pb, Cd and As in goats raised near the El Fraile mine tailings, by measuring the concentrations of Pb, Cd and As in blood, edible tissues, urine, feces and hair. Geochemical data indicate that goats likely consumed Pb, Cd, and As through ingestion (food and water), demonstrating that grass, maize, sweet acacia, water from the Cacalotenango River, and leachates from the mine tailings can act as transport agents of TE whose fate is living beings. The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As in blood and soft tissues of the lung and brain of goats were very low, even well below the maximum permissible limits established by Mexican (NOM-004-ZOO-1994) and international regulation agencies (FAO, 1989; USEPA, 2002; GB 2762\u0026thinsp;\u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;2017; CXS-193-1995). These data indicate that the use of this livestock for human consumption does not represent an important health risk. However, the relatively high concentrations found in urine and feces demonstrate the great capability of goats to eliminate TE from their organisms, reducing exposure and poisoning, and decreasing the risk for human consumption. The high concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As determined in hair and bezoar samples also serve as evidence of impact of living beings by mine tailings. These data highlight the effectiveness of non-invasive samples (i.e., urine, feces, hair) as bioindicators of TE exposure. Moreover, the Pb isotope composition of blood, urine, and bezoar from goats was similar to the composition of the El Fraile mine tailings, indicating that the El Fraile mine tailings represent a hazard to the environment and health. The findings of this research demonstrate the existence of a significant risk to the health of living beings that interact with the mine tailings or their derivatives. In just seven months, the exposed goats managed to ingest, bioaccumulate, and eliminate TE from their systems. In real conditions, goats are exposed for longer periods, which makes them more likely to have higher rates of exposure and bioaccumulation of TE. Thus, the goats serve as an indirect indicator of the potential exposure to TE for people living near mine tailings, who may interact with the contaminated environment over longer periods due to their daily activities.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eFUNDING\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis research was conducted without any funding or financial support.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMUER: sample preparation and investigationSASS: Conceptualization, investigation, resources, project administration, Validation, Visualization, Writing \u0026ndash; originalRDS: Visualization, Writing \u0026ndash; review and editingOTM: ConceptualizationMBBL: autopsy and dissection of goatsGNM: autopsy and dissection of goatsJLAN: Writing \u0026ndash; review and editingGHF: Writing \u0026ndash; review and editingAll authors commented on previous versions of the manuscriptAll authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgment\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe authors are grateful to Mark Baker, manager of the Laboratory of Geochemistry of the Department of Geosciences, at the University of Arizona, for the support in acquiring Pb isotope measurements. We also thank to Jazmin Alaide L\u0026oacute;pez-D\u0026iacute;az and the Scanning Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Laboratory (LMEByM) at the Universidad Aut\u0026oacute;noma de Guerrero (CONAHCYT, grants 231511 and 322409) for provide the imaging and geochemical data. We thank Daniel Ramos P\u0026eacute;rez and the Environmental Sciences Laboratory (LCA) for acquiring geochemical data. This contribution was part of a Master of Science thesis by Mart\u0026iacute;n Ubaldo Escorcia-Reynoso, who received support from the National Council of Humanities, Science and Technology, Mexico (CONAHCYT) through a postgraduate scholarship for his support during his studies.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAl-Ghafari, A., Elmorsy, E., Fikry, E., Alrowaili, M., \u0026amp; Carter, W. G. (2019). The heavy metals lead and cadmium are cytotoxic to human bone osteoblasts via induction of redox stress. 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International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(3), 943.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Toxic elements, goat edible tissues, consumer food safety, health risk, Pb isotopes","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4614307/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4614307/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003ePb, Cd, and As concentrations were measured in blood, edible tissues, urine, feces, and hair samples from goats raised in the vicinity of the abandoned El Fraile mine tailings (Taxco de Alarc\u0026oacute;n, Mexico) to evaluate the bioaccumulation levels to Pb, Cd, and As. The goats were fed grains, grasses, and sprouts that grew on top of mine tailings and drank from the mine leachate for seven months, reproducing the natural conditions of goats raised around and on top of mine tailings. Blood showed the lowest Pb, Cd, and As concentrations, followed by edible tissues (leg muscle, brain, and lungs) whose concentrations were below Mexican permissible limits (NOM-004-ZOO-1994). However, urine showed higher concentrations of Pb and As, but feces showed even higher concentrations and hair and bezoars exhibited the highest Pb, Cd, and As values. Even though these data suggest that consuming edible tissues does not represent a risk to human health, the high Pb, Cd, and As concentrations in urine, feces, and hair suggest that goats were exposed to chronic poisoning. Additionally, isotope data indicate that Pb determined in blood, urine, and bezoars is related to the remanent mineralization present in the mine tailings, highlighting the hazard that mine tailings represent to the environment and settlers of the region.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Assessing bioaccumulation of Pb, Cd, and As in Goats: Impacts of exposure to mine tailings in a polymetallic mining region","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-08-21 18:06:33","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4614307/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"7f11adb9-5f64-439f-8c20-1d3429dfe659","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 21st, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-09-30T13:24:21+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-08-21 18:06:33","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4614307","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4614307","identity":"rs-4614307","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}